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Kennett girls fall victim to red-hot Jackson 51-18 in latest SEMO Conference challenge
Kennett’s Dakayla Duckworth (back) and Jackson’s No. 20 Madison Lambert battle for a rebound Monday night.
KENNETT, Mo. - Kennett varsity girls basketball coach Kevin McCaig believes the challenges his team endures by playing in the SEMO Conference maximize his squad’s chances of enjoying success in the postseason.
“We’ve got to play teams like Jackson and Dexter to prepare us for our ultimate goal,” McCaig said. “None of these SEMO Conference teams are in our district right now. At the end of the day we want to have a chance to win a district championship and playing the SEMO Conference schedule, while it can create some frustrating times for our girls, gets us ready for the end of the year.”
Kennett endured its latest challenge in the SEMO Conference Monday night at home.
Kennett senior guard Meagan Pickens eyes a teammate Monday night against Jackson.
Jackson, which was ranked in the Top 10 in Class 5 in the preseason state basketball rankings, shot the ball well from the perimeter from the get-go.
Jackson recorded five of its eight treys in the first period of play as it built a 22-6 lead by the start of the second period. Jackson led by at least 16 the rest of the way as it won at Kennett 51-18.
“I thought we executed well at the beginning of the game,” Jackson coach Tyler Abernathy said. “We ran some sets and got the ball where we wanted it and hit some shots. I thought we really set the tone for the entire night by being able to get some offensive rebounds and hit a few shots in the first quarter.”
Kennett senior forward Kayton Harris handles the ball in the paint Monday night against Jackson.
Kennett, which is averaging 32 points per game, continued its search for offense against Jackson.
Dakayla Duckworth and Tyneshia Wilson paced Kennett with five points each. Janesha Hubbard was one point behind with four points.
“We are still trying to find some offense,” McCaig said. “We are mixing and matching some things. We cannot replicate the kind of defensive pressure we are seeing in practice right now. Scoring in practice against our junior varsity is a little easier than scoring against a preseason Class 5 state-ranked team.”
Three players scored in double digits for Jackson (8-1).
Five-foot-nine junior Kalli Mayfield recorded a team-high 15 points. She hit five 2-pointers and made five of six free throws.
Senior guard Emma Masterson added all 12 of her points on four 3-pointers.
Freshman guard Madison Lambert tallied 11 points on three treys and two made free throws.
“I thought Kennett got tired and our defensive pressure eventually took over,” Abernathy said. “We were able to cause some turnovers and did a pretty good job finishing at the basket.”
Kennett (1-5) hosts Charleston in a key Class 3, District 1 affair Thursday night.
“We just hope to duplicate last Thursday’s success when we beat Portageville,” McCaig said. “It’s a big district game for us. Charleston has some returning starters. We’ve just got to come out and compete. If we do that we like our chances.”
Notes: Jackson beat Kennett 41-27 in the junior varsity contest.
Jackson 51, Kennett 18
JHS 22 7 15 7 - 51
KHS 6 6 4 2 - 18
JACKSON (51) Grace Pehle 4, Emma Masterson 12, Madison Lambert 11, Mah Massey 2, Kalli Mayfield 15, Mik Liley 7. FG 18, FT 7/11, F 6. (3-pointers: Masterson 4, Lambert 3, Liley 1; Fouled out: None).
KENNETT (18) - Dakayla Duckworth 5, Tyneshia Wilson 5, Janesha Hubbard 4, Kayton Harris 2, Kaniya Madlock 2. FG 8, FT 1/6, F 8. (3-pointers: Duckworth 1; Fouled out: None).